Microbiologist: "They've been made ill but most are too frightened to speak out" -- "People that are sick are going to be sick for the rest of their lives"

"The people that are sick are going to be sick for the rest of their lives," [microbiologist Wilma] Subra said. "This isn't just a short time that they're sick and then they'll get well. These issues are long-term chronic health impacts that will linger." ...

In her meetings with coastal residents, cleanup workers and volunteer health care providers, Subra has seen firsthand the devastating effects of the mix of oil and dispersants on the health of vulnerable populations.

She explained that many people have become sick through contact with these chemicals while working to clean up the oil spill and blames BP directly for not only failing to provide proper protective gear, such as respirators, but also threatening to fire cleanup workers if they wore them. ...

[T]hey've been made ill but most are too frightened to speak out because they're afraid to lose their jobs.

"Their wives spoke out early on and they were told if their wives continued to speak out they'd be fired, or if they spoke they'd be fired," said Subra, adding that, for this reason, LEAN [Louisiana Environmental Action Network] had stepped in to help voice the concerns of the fishing community.